Griffin, Crayola Partner for iPad
Griffin Technology and Crayola announce the availability of Crayola ColorStudio HD for iPad, an accessory and app combo that blends coloring with cutting-edge mobile technology.
Crayola ColorStudio HD is a multi-activity drawing app for iPad with a marker-shaped digital stylus called the iMarker. With the functionality of a marker, crayon, pen, and paintbrush in one, iMarker allows users to interact with animated coloring book pages that move and react while being colored. The iMarker brings the ColorStudio HD App to life on iPad, generating custom-produced pictures, animations, sound effects, music, and other special effects with each touch on the Multi-Touch display.
The Crayola ColorStudio HD App is able to differentiate automatically between a child’s finger input (taps, swipes, etc.) and the input from iMarker. For the first time, users are able to manipulate both the creative space and color without having to toggle between app modes. The ColorStudio HD App provides hundreds of hours of playtime, with more than 30 animated coloring pages, pictures, sound effects, and music. Young artists also have the option to design an unlimited number of their own coloring pages using ColorStudio HD’s extensive built-in library of backgrounds, music, sound effects, and other elements. Artwork can be e-mailed, uploaded to Facebook, or even printed directly from iPad to any AirPrint-enabled printer.
Magic School Bus on Nintendo DS
Scholastic Media, a division of Scholastic, announced that it will bring The Magic School Bus to the Nintendo DS system for the first time. The Magic School Bus: Oceans invites gamers to hop on the bus and explore an ocean teeming with life. It will be available at retail this fall for $19.99.
With seven games and nearly 200 ocean interactions, players engage in open exploration to navigate ocean areas and sea life. Players apply knowledge learned throughout the game to answer questions posted by Ms. Frizzle. As levels are unlocked, players can return to the bus to play additional games and to discover more than 100 facts and more than 100 sea animals. The game is distributed by Cokem International.
Star Trek Padd App Launches
CBS Interactive announced the launch of the official Star Trek Padd app, based on the iconic television franchise. The Star Trek Padd (Personal Access Display Device) app provides fans with the ultimate mobile Trekker experience. The app features an authentic reproduction of the LCARS interface—the fictional computer operating system depicted in the Star Trek television series—as well as a rich, interactive database of Star Trek television series information, including images and an episode guide. The Star Trek Padd app is now available for $4.99 in the App Store in every one of the more than 120 international markets where the show’s five series are licensed.
Developed in conjunction with CBS Mobile by app development studio ArcTouch, the app transports fans back through the 40-year history of the television franchise.
South Bend Sporting Goods Signs with Discovery
Discovery Communications announced a U.S.-based licensing deal with South Bend Sporting Goods, Inc., for a line of fishing equipment and accessories inspired by the Animal Planet television series, River Monsters, starring extreme angler and biologist Jeremy Wade. The gear will debut this week at the world’s largest sports fishing trade show, ICAST, in Las Vegas.
South Bend Sporting Goods is developing a line of River Monsters branded fishing rods, reels, and equipment combination packages that will range in price from $11.99–$49.99. They will also produce a selection of tackle boxes, kits, tools, and lures ranging in price from $2.99–$39.99. The line will be available at outdoor specialty stores for holiday 2011 before expanding to sporting goods stores and mass market retailers in spring 2012.
The deal was brokered on behalf of Animal Planet by its North American licensing agent, The Joester Loria Group.